Equinox Summit — Local services in Summit

As a starting point, i am a man in his mid 20's whose trained for years in martial arts, soccer, calisthenics, kettle bells, and am in relatively good shape for someone my age.

I have been a member for 1+ years and I would not suggest this place to anyone (unless you have money to spend and are desperate to break away from whatever gym you are at). Let me first off by stating that this gym and business practice's are poorly run. In order to join you must sign up for one year paying 156 (the membership fee has gone up since then) dollars a month, and the tag line for this contract is "A dedication to fitness" Actually it's more like a dedication to filling this gym's pockets. The only way (get this) you can get out of the contract without paying a cancellation fee is either through pregnancy, injury or you move 25+ miles away! Getting out of equinox (assuming you somehow get through the year w.o cancelling or other aforementioned items) there's a 45 day notice you must fill out with the gym before they terminate your membership, which is god awfully long for something most people can do using computers these days, and then you still have to pay them for the month +15 days! When you fill out this gym's satisfaction survey, the GM and assistant GM are kind enough to email you back and ask why is it you are unhappy with your membership but whatever you say doesn't matter cause they just apologize nod and say they will try to fix it but they never do, they're also for some reason addicted to have you call them, i don't know why..... The classes could be better and most classes cater to the casual gym go-er, not someone who is dedicated to really pushing their limits. Most instructors say you can come to them and offer suggestions but that too falls on deaf ears.The gym caters too much to quantity of people in the classes not quality of classes. Private sessions (which range from 84 -111 dollars depending upon the "tier" trainer you have and how many sessions you buy with them) with trainers cost an arm and a leg on top of the 156 they charge per month, and don't even get me started on the spa costs. Parking at this gym is atrocious since people park in front of the entrance way (which aren't parking spots) and not in parking spots due to a sense of entitlement, and are never punished. If you ever get to know some of the gym go-ers well enough, odds are you will find that they all have 1-2 complaints about this gym and how it's run.

The only few redeeming factors about this gym (hence why i didn't give it a 1 star) are that there are a few (i can count on one hand) classes that give you a great work out and the club does try to push a sense of community/networking, which is why i stayed the +1 years. However, that really isn't enough to justify the cost of the gym(which they really should offer members a break down in the prices). To be fair this isn't like the other equinoxes in NYC (which i have visited as well), and this review is exclusively for...

I joined the gym two weeks ago and am thrilled. I did not expect to join. I was not even shopping around. Rather, I sold, in all the right ways. That is, on account of the quality.

The price is absolutely worth it. First, all of the classes are free. Count up your $40 a month membership plus $15 a class at your normal gym, and what do you get? $40 a month for nothing because you never go because you don’t want to pay another $15 each time for a class that’s fairly lame anyhow in a gym that’s too crowded anyhow where the locker rooms are are all metal, tile and plastic.

“Meh maybe I’ll just go to the park.” And then you don’t do that either.

Now imagine going 6 days a week because you genuinely want to. Bc the place makes you happy. Because you feel safe, energized, welcomed, special. Check it:

6 * $15 * 4 $160 5 * $15 * 4 $160 Even 4 * $15 * 4 $160

It’s a steal. Go 3 times a week and you’ve covered the membership on the classes alone.

But now add a superb, positively undone staff. A hello every entry. A goodby every exit. Constant cleaning of the locker-rooms. They have staff permanently in the locker rooms, on a rotating basis, in constant motion. So its always spotless and it’s not like you have an attendant who’s just waiting standing there.

The app is actually fun to use not just useful. I like booking classes on it bc it’s more accountability. Some of their classes are now walk-ins but I’ve never been denied entry into a class even when late.

Now you worry: won’t I get bored? What about my niche yoga boutique class! No. Stop paying 50 people $20 each for “um, yea it was great.” This place has all the variety you want: yoga Pilates cycling many variations of bootcamp several types of athletic dance walking class running class stretch class. They keep up with the latest trends and science. The instructors in everything are, very clearly, the very best. And everything is in sync. So you get the best grade cycling instructor, the best grade yoga teacher, the most unbelievably serious (and fun!) Pilates, the most cutting edge bootcamps. All in one. One price. One place. All top quality.

I feel LUCKY to be a member. Thats how impressed I am.

Now come all the delightful little things. Once you have a solid product it’s truly the little things that separate you. I love the salt water lap pool (hardly ever used, in a wooden spa-like atmosphere). Then there are the cold Eucalyptus towels always stocked in two fridges on the floor. Just for you to cool down with between sets.

I’ve saved the best for last: the trainers. I won’t say more than this because it’s too special to describe further:

Are you a soul, of any gender, who wants to get stronger, healthier, and most important: happier? Good. Come. These folks believe in their product, in you, and in themselves. For...

Mainly chose this gym for its location. To be honest, this Equinox feels long overdue for a major refresh. Many machines I’ve never seen any member use once. Truthfully feels like there should at least be a second floor. This gym has gotten by since there’s nowhere comparable to workout (in non-class settings) nearby. I was recently a guest at LifeTime in Berkeley Heights and would leave them a higher rating. These past few weeks, I have encountered a number of mishaps firsthand at EQX: check-in system(s) down, steam room non-operational, power failure, satellite dish (TV) failure, no locker room air conditioning, etc.

The cold eucalyptus towels are great after a workout, which staff is consistently working to replenish. Plenty of treadmills and StairMasters to use. Added perk of wireless charging on some machines. Front desk employees are kind, smiling, inviting. Wipes stationed throughout gym to sterilize equipment with. Employees tasked with locker room upkeep have done a great job while I’ve been there.

I’d love if there were built-in locks like the majority of other locations have — this is even something I’ve discussed with other members. Everything was fine for me until a lulu hat and water bottle were stolen from my locker…not blaming the club for this, it just leaves a strange taste in your mouth.

100% could use a second pec deck — almost always a wait to use it, no matter the time of day. I’ve opened white towels to find hairs and/or speckled mold, more than once. Can be hard to find a comb, even just shortly after opening. Pool is okay, really nothing spectacular. Overall layout feels very strange and space doesn’t feel entirely well-utilized; juice bar honestly feels forgotten, unnecessary — could be modified into meaningful co-working space. No alternative ever provided with the loss of single-use plastic bags for dirty clothes. Heavy rain essentially submerges front lot and sidewalk. Shower area can get verrrry slick at times, almost dangerously so — it would be great if there was something on the ground to provide safety. There are a dozen (~12) well-developed potholes along the “paved” connector from the back lot to River Road — tried my best to count while avoiding them all; this is honestly very, very wild to me for this club and the cars in the lot…

It really feels like this club could be so much more, but it falls short and skates under the...